Dying of a broken heart

The Lim festival, for many, including me, is synonymous with quan ho, the traditional love duets that Bac Ninh Province is famous for.
The festival might have several other activities, but at its heart lies the rich tradition of quan ho, already recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.
While there were quan ho performances aplenty at this year’s festival, my expectations of getting immersed in the authentic singing tradition were belied.
The Lim festival is held on the 12th and 13th day of the first lunar month. This year, as in other years, people flocked to the festival, although it fell in the middle of a working week, on Wednesday and Thursday.
Along with calligraphy, wrestling, cock-fighting and other activities, the biggest celebration of the year in the northern province did feature quan ho performances aimed to preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of the locality.
I arrived in Bac Ninh on the second day of the festival, joining people … [Read more...] about Quan ho ‘clashes’ limit Lim festival cheer

If you're searching for your significant other, get connected with the Gods of love. The religious beliefs of the Vietnamese people have been preserved for thousands of years. People flock to religious spots such as pagodas and temples to pray for a prosperous and healthy New Year and to pay their respects to Buddha and the Gods who have been looking over them and granting their wishes. People often wish for health, wealth and love. For those who are looking for romance, here are some suggestions. Ha Pagoda, Hanoi When it comes to the most "favorable" place to pray for love, Ha Pagoda tops the list. The pagoda was built in the early 11th century, but people have no idea when it became THE place to go to pray for love. Even if you do not have any passionate longings, the peaceful and ambient atmosphere make a great spot to get away from the chaotic capital city. The pagoda lies in Dich Vong Commune, Cau Giay District, Hanoi. Chu Dong Tu Temple, Hung Yen Chu Dong Tu is one of … [Read more...] about Love is in the air: four sacred spots to pray for love

The charm of Nui Coc Lake (05-09-2008) by Bach Lien
Dock of the bay: Nui Coc Lake surprises many visitors with its legendary beauty. — VNS Photo Truong Vi
For as long as I can re-member, I’ve been se-duced by a sweet song that tells the legend of Nui Coc Lake in the northern province of Thai Nguyen. Many people like me know it by heart and dream of travelling to the lake which, as the legend goes, is made of the tears of a girl who cannot marry the man she loves. I decided to finally make my dream a reality by hopping on my motorbike to visit the lake with some friends. The dream started on my way to Thai Nguyen, 80km from Ha Noi, as I was greeted by immense emerald rice fields. The 18km of windy roads from Thai Nguyen City’s centre to Nui Coc Lake are lined by tea-terraced fields on hills, and gentle rivers under a blue sky. As we passed the bright fields, suddenly the blue of the sky was reflected upon the ground in a dream-like vision. The vision was … [Read more...] about The charm of Nui Coc Lake

VietNamNet Bridge – Yuzuru (Twilight Crane), a famous Japanese opera adapted from a folk story, will be staged at Hanoi Opera House on March 29 and 30.
The opera involves two famous Japanese artists, namely soprano Ieda Noriko (Tsu, a crane in human form who is the wife of Yohyo) and tenor Mochiki Hiroshi (Yohyo, a poor farmer who dreams of becoming rich).
The opera will be under the instruction of director Le Hung in cooperation with the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Japanese conductor Honna Tetsuji, a choir from Hanoi Children’s Palace and dancers from the Youth Theater.
Premiered in 1951, Yuzuku is a one act opera composed by Ikuma Dan after the play of the same name by Junji Kinoshita in 1949. The story takes place in an isolated mountain village in ancient Japan.
The story follows Yohyo who lives with his beautiful wife Tsu who is the incarnation of the wounded crane he saved by pulling an arrow from its body.
Wishing to make life easier for … [Read more...] about Yuzuru opera comes to Hanoi

Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI - The Việt Nam National Opera and Ballet (VNOB) are performing the classical romantic ballet Giselle tonightat Hà Nội Opera House. The VNOB has performed Giselle twice before, in 1982 and in 2004. The ministry of culture, sports and tourism has commissioned the VNOB to stage one of the most known ballets in the world, said People's Artist Ngô Thị Kiều Ngân, who played the title role in 1982 and is directing the 2016 version for the VNOB. The 2016 version is based on Marius Petipa's classic version with music by Adolphe Adam, which was first staged at St Petersburg in 1884. The two-act ballet is about Giselle, a beautiful, young girl who falls in love with a prince and later dies of a broken heart. "The story is about betrayal and love that transcends death and the supernatural," the veteran dancer said. "Giselle falls in love with prince Albrecht who has told her he is a villager. She is distraught and horrified (when she learns the truth later) and dies of a … [Read more...] about National ballet dancers to perform Giselle